Wal-Mart turns 40

Wal-Mart is celebrating its 40th birthday at the store where it all began. On July 2, 1962, the first Wal-Mart opened its doors in Rogers, Ark., at the Shelby Lane Mall. The 35,000-sq.-ft. store employed 25 sales associates.

Today, the store has moved to a 200,000-sq.-ft. building just up the street and employs more than 650 associates. Kicking off a full day of festivities at the store on Tuesday, July 2, Rogers-Lowell Chamber of Commerce and city officials unveiled a plaque commemorating the retail giant’s first physical location.